The Real Deal New York

Taconic mulls locations for expansion of Essex Crossing

Developer eyes former Eastern Dispensary, synagogue on the Lower East Side

March 20, 2014 03:40PM

Taconic Partners could be expanding its Essex Crossing project on the Lower East Side.

The firm showed interest in purchasing the former Eastern Dispensary at 75 Essex Street, directly across from the future site of the complex, in an email intercepted by Bowery Boogie.

“The expansion is under wraps for now, but money talks and we have it,” the email reads, with the author’s name redacted.

Shalon Eisner, the property’s current owner, recently pulled the former pharmacy off the market and agreed yesterday to a historic landmark designation for the site — as long as he can build on top of it, according to Bowery Boogie. Developers have long eyed the building’s 5,296-square-foot lot and 31,776 square feet of air rights, as previously reported.

The full board and the Landmarks Preservation Commission still need to sound off on designating the property, and Taconic is also considering the Beth Hamedrash Hagadol synagogue at 60 Norfolk Street for the site of its planned expansion, the blog reported. [BoweryBoogie] — Angela Hunt